Pusher device for extra long loaves



,7 ATTORNEY s. E. v A O .-v G N m m M A m z.`J M m 1. mm E 2 .E m d@ ||lw d M. M A m w I s m ,m @l m w L. w S. E Nnw 2 3 w NN hwg@ 8 .n 2 ww@auml/QM am @e EJ q.. a ffl.- S. .m wh N @n "Q uw .O L Espn Q NmIPatented -June 28, 1932 UNITED s'rjA'rEs PATENT orf-lcs SAMUELA.W'ICKMAN, OF ST. ALBAN S, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN MACHINE &

' FOUNDBY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW 'YORK a PUSHER DEVICE FOR'EXTRALONG LOAVES Application med August 21, 1931. Serial No. 558,630

This invention relates to package conveyors for wrapping machines,particularly to conveyors of the chain and pusher type for acting onbread loaves and packages of "greatly varying length. The principalobject of the invention is to provide eXtra-pusher liingers for longpackages while avoiding certain diiicultis and interference of partswhich would normally result in 'such a construction.

Certain modern wrapping machines are intendedv to act on loaves orpackages varying eatly in'length as for instance from 7 to 22". It hasbeen found that with the long loaves or packages, particularly with longsliced bread loaves that the articles if engaged near the center bypusher lingers properly spaced for normal or short articles, tnd eitherto curve about the pushers at the center or to swing about the pushersas a pivot. Accordingly itis an object of the invention to provide apractical construction by which the proper number and arrangement ofpushers for long loaves or articles may be provided at Thishoweverinvolves, the diiculty that the end pusher fingers would interfere withthe end closing or folding and sealing mechanismwhen said mechanismswere at their inner positions for acting on the short articles.Accordingly another object of the invention is to provide :forreleasably securing end pushers in a simple and practical manner eitherin or out of operative position so that they may at will be convenientlysecured in position to clear the folding or closing plates with theultimate object of producing a wrapping machine which workssatisfactorily with articles varying very widely in dimension. Withthese and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the veclaims hereunto appended. e

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specificationand in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the long loaf pusher arrangementused con]unct1on 5 with a bread wrapping machine; Fig. 2 is the samemovement as the primary series when an extra long article is to bewrapped, and means whereby said secondary series are incapacitated whenarticles of normal length are wrapped. In the best constructions thefingers of the secondary seriesl are swingable in and out of position toact on the article and preferably means are provided for rel leasablyholding them in either position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the endless conveyor chains 10 run over rearsprockets 11, fixedly attached to drive shaft 12, and over a pair offront sprockets not shown. Cross members 13 mounted in bearings 14attached at equal distances to the endless chains 10 carry twopairs ofpusher fingers 15, 15 and 16, 16, the fingers of the former pair beingixedly attached to the member 13 by means of clamp lugs 17 While thoseof the latter pair are removably mounted on the member 13. The long loafL which rests on table 18 is conveyed by the pusher fingers 15 and 16past wrapping or sealing devices such as the folder plates 19 and 20 forclosing the 4end flaps of a partially wrapped article carried bybrackets 21 and 22 adj ustably mounted on a screw rod 23 the bracketsand screw rod being suitably guided in the machine frame, not shown.Arms 24, attached to the cross members 13 of the conveyor, supportrollers 25 which serve to. guide the pusher fingers 15 and 16 byengaging with a guide rail 26 on their travel around with the conyor.

'lhe releasably mounted pusher fingers 16 are held in position on themembers 13 by radial plugs 27 Figs. 3 and 4, carried in their hubs,engaging in each of which is a spring pressed plunger 28 held in a hole29 provided for this parpose in cross member 13, bya spring 30, saidplunger being fastened to a knurled knob 31. By lifting the plungers 28out of the holes 29, the fingers 16 ma be incapacitated by sliding themto the en of the respective members near each of which each member hasan annular groove 32, Fig. 2, into which fits the locking plun er 28 ofthe finger. In positions correspon ng with the grooves 32 on crossmembers 13, the cross rods 33, which are mounted in bearings 34 attachedt'o the chains 10 on which the pusher fingers of each cross member reston their return travel, carry swingable members 35 held in annulargrooves 36 by set screws 37. Each member 35 has a horizontallyprojectingpin 38 and the rearwardly projecting web of each of the eXtra lingers 16has a hole 39, so that the lingers 16 can be locked to the flanges 35when not in use, the fingers then remaining l in their inoperative-position on `rods 33 on the forward travel of the member 13 as well ason their return travel. In this position they clear without interferencethe wrapping devices 19 and 20. The swing of members 35 providesrelative longitudinal movement of the free end of the fingers withrespect to the chain to permit travel around the end loops of the chain.

When the machine isV used for wrapping long loaves L, the folder plates19 and 20 are set wide apart as shown and all the fingers 15 and 16engage with the loaf. When small loaves L are to be wrapped, theadjusting' rod 23 is turned by a knob, not shown, until the distance ofthe folder plates 19 and 20A corresponds to the smaller length of loaf Land then only the inner fingers 15 are vin position to engage with theloaf. For

small loaves it is thereforenecessary to lift the outer fingers 16 outof the way and suspend them so that they will not interfere with thebrackets 21 and 22. To do this, the operator pulls the knob 31 outward,thereby removing the plunger 28 from the locking hole 29, then turns thelinger back until it rests on cross rod 33 and slides it axially outwardon member 13 with one hand while with the other he turns the flange 35on rod 33 so that the pin 38 will enter the hole 39 when the plunger 28approaches the flange,

after which he keeps on sliding the ingerunl til the plunger 28 engageswith the corresponding groove 32 of crossv members 13 and snaps into thesame, thereby locking the iinger to the rod 33. The fingers 16 arecarried around on the chains 10 in this suspended position until theyare again placed in workin position when required.

us a proper distribution of the 'pushing forces from the several pushinglingers is attained, whereby there will be no tendenc of articles tobend between orvbeyond pu's ers and whereby no interference with use ofthe wrapping machine on articles of` al1 lengths within its capacitresults.

What is claim is:

series of lingers on either side of and having the saine movement as theprimary series when extra long articleslare to be wrapped, and meanswhereby said secondary series are incapacitated when articles of normallength are to be Wrapped, the fingers of said secondary series beingswingable in and out of position to act on the articles.

3. The combination with a primary series of traveling lingers forpushing articles through a wrapping machine of a secondary series offingers on either side of and having the saine movement as the primaryseries when extra long articles are to be wrapped, means whereby saidsecondary series are lincapacitated when articles of normal length v areto be wrapped, the lingers of said secondary series being swingable inand out of position to act on the articles, and means for selectivelyholding them in either position.

' 4. The combination with an endless chain conveyorhaving a primaryseries of fingers for pushing articles through a wrapping l machine, anda secondary series of fingers having the same movement as the primaryseries when extra'long articles are to be wrapped, means whereby saidsecondary series are incapacitated when articles of normal length are tobe wrapped, the fingers of said secondary series being swingable in andout of Iposition to act on the articles, means for selectively holdingthem in either posi tion, said means including elements on a chain ofsaid conveyor and coacting with the secondary pushers to yieldinglysupport the same thereon while permitting the` pushers to follow arounda loop of the chain.

5. The combination with separated wrap' ping devices for closing packageWrappers,

means mounting said devices for movement toward or away'from each otherto act` on different lengths of packages, a primary series of travelingfingers for pushing articlesA between the devices, -a secondary seriesof fingers on either side of and having the same movement as the primaryseries when extra long articles are to be wrapped, said closin devicesbeing adjustable vto positions in pat ofthe secondary lingers when thedevices are .in osition for operating on extra length pa gee, and meansfor incapacitating said cnam series of-angemmahalum in inoperativeposition 'clear of said A evices when short len articles are l wrap 6.The combination withsepmteog'vrapping devices for elosingpackagewrappers, means mounting said devices for-movement toward or away :fromAeach other to lact cn dierent lengths of pl y v a series .of travelingfingers for pushilxngvam.

cles between the devices, a secondary series of lingers on either sideofand the same movementA as the' primary series when extra long articlesarel to"bew1s1.\pedz saidy closing Vdevice; bein-g adjustable mjpassions in pathl of the secondary fingersv when thedevlces arein-position for operating on short are swing'ably mounted, said means inud- 'lunger and recess oon- -v struction for rel `1 the finger ing aspring pressed against swinging .on t e f In testlmony whereof, I havesigned my e namevto this cation. Y

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